Main Rivals

As camera manufacturers increasingly add more bells, whistles and megapixels to their compacts in order to outdo the competition, it's easy to overlook the cheaper yet still very capable end of the market. This is where cameras like the new Canon Powershot A495 aim to provide the core functionality and image quality of their more expensive brethren in a more accessible and of course cheaper package. Read our in-depth 10-page Canon PowerShot A495 review to find out if this budget shooter hits the mark.

The slim and stylish Fujifilm FinePix Z70 is aimed squarely at the teenage market, with easy uploads to YouTube and Facebook, point and shoot operation, a sliding lens cover, and a range of bright metallic colours. The Z70 also makes a great family camera, with a robust metal body, 5x zoom, 2.7 inch LCD, high-definition movie recording, and a very attractive price-tag of £129.99 / $149.95. Read our expert Fujifilm FinePix Z70 review.

The Olympus FE-5030 is a new slim, stylish and simplified compact camera that won't break the bank. Featuring a 14 megapixel sensor, 5x 26-130mm zoom lens, and a 2.7 inch LCD screen, the FE 5030 is priced at £139.99. Zoltan-Arva Toth finds out if that's money well spent in our Olympus FE-5030 review.

Budget doesn't have to mean cheap and nasty, and that's certainly the case with the stylish yet affordable Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 camera. A 14 megapixel sensor, 2.7 inch screen, 4x wide-angle zoom lens and even 720p movies can be your for just over £100 / $125. Check out our Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 Review to find out if this camera is less disposable than its price suggests.

There are literally hundred of compact cameras on the market, making it extremely difficult for a new model to get noticed. The Pentax RS1000 tackles this problem in a rather unique way - the front can be customised with an image, instantly transforming the RS1000 from just another compact to your own personalised camera. Find out if this is enough to stand-out by reading our Pentax Optio RS1000 review.